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Clarissa man wins 'Sweet Home Alabama'

Photo by John Russell/CMT
CMT's "Sweet Home Alabama" bachelorette Paige Duke of Lancaster, S.C. and Starbuck, Minn. chose Jeremiah James Korfe of Clarissa during the reality show's final episode which aired Friday, March 23.

Like the biblical prophet sharing his first name, Jeremiah Korfe claimed he was bad with words -- but the raw emotions came through in "Sweet Home Alabama," CMT's reality dating show. The Clarissa farmer and musician was chosen at the finale by southern belle bachelorette Paige Duke.

His mother, Linda Korfe, and one of his sisters, Heidi Berg, also had a surprise appearance in the last episode.

However, Duke has said on Facebook and in media interviews that she had chosen Korfe from the beginning and their connection was love at first sight. The couple kept their relationship secret for the airing of the show and were finally seen in public at the end of a viewing party in Canada.

On the first episode, Korfe's reaction to meeting Duke was that he felt like he was 12 years old again.

The seemingly throw-away line had more significance later in the show, since Korfe said he had been praying to meet someone like Paige ever since he was 12.

While Duke is originally from South Carolina, she has worked at Kruger Farms in Starbuck, Minn. since late summer 2011. The couple filmed a music video there shortly after the end of the show.

A meet and greet was held the following Wednesday evening at the Clarissa ballroom, and according to Korfe's Facebook page, about 1,000 people arrived to show their support.

On Sunday, April 1, Korfe and Duke made their appearance at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards in Las Vegas.